While I didn't find 'Red Hood's Revenge' to be as enjoyable as its two previous instalments, it is still very good. Excellent worldbuilding, mythology and history on Arathea, the Arabic-influenced homeland of Princess Talia (Sleeping Beauty). The writing of different perspectives from each of the characters, describing what they are thinking and feeling, is also wonderfully done.
More magical power, more political power, more deceptive and dangerous fae, more fae rules made to be broken, and a lot more revelations about the sleeping curse that was placed on Talia. Her story – as a rape victim, a wanted killer by the royals who engineered the murder of her family, and as a princess of a home taken from her by force - is a tragic one.
Talia is not yet free of her past, or her impending fate. For her fairy tale, like everyone else’s, has no ever after.
'Red Hood's Revenge' starts off simple enough – the child snatcher Rumpelstilzchen gets a vignette. Then it gets rather convoluted and confusing around the middle and end, with too many villains and dark creatures (the political angle doesn't really help matters - fantasy stories are meant to be fun overall).
Red Riding Hood herself - Roudette (great name) - is an awesome character. Little Red as an assassin? Brilliant! She is a stone-cold, remorseless killer who matches Talia in combat skills. As will become clear later this isn't the only thing they have in common. Roudette carries a war hammer, and her red cape protects her from any magic, and when flipped on its wolf skin side it transforms her into a wolf. Genius!
However, she does take a backseat along with the other action princesses Danielle (Cinderella) and Snow (White) during the middle when she joins the main girl group in Arathea, where an overall sinister plan for a fairy takeover has already started. It is war between humans and fairies - and humans with themselves; the same goes for fairies. Deception is everywhere, and the usually distrustful and stoic Talia must find someone familiar, someone who will offer comfort and support to her in her old home.
It is time for her to return to Arathea after eight years, to take on a role as queen and lead an army. But is it an elaborate trap, a hundred years in the making?
Roudette's backstory, as it turns out, isn't that interesting or original, and very little is mentioned of it. But this is Talia's story, paralleled with Roudette’s as it is, and so her history comes first.
Danielle is her usual sweet, saintly and trusting self, who helps out a lot and has some funny lines. Her son Jakob is two now and Queen Beatrice (who barely appears in this book) is dying, so she has an awful lot going on for her in preparation to become the future queen of Lorindar; much like Talia’s situation in Arathea. Danielle has gotten better at diplomacy and leadership, coming a long way from 'The Stepsister Scheme'. She shows promise as a queen in 'Red Hood's Revenge', which is good.
I was a little disappointed with Snow - I was expecting to see more of her dark side, and more consequences of her casting too many spells after the events of 'The Mermaid's Madness'. But the most we get in 'Red Hood's Revenge' are her headaches, the result of a fractured skull inflicted from her previous adventure. Snow is still sassy, flirty, thoughtless and funny; meaning, harmless. Though there’ll likely be more character development and backstory from her in the next instalment, 'The Snow Queen's Shadow'.
As well as a complicated political plot (with sprinklings of creative ideas), I feel there is less sisterly compassion and friendship between the princesses in ‘Red Hood’s Revenge’, given how much of a temper and killing mood everyone is in. However, I really like the relationships Talia has with her old friends in Arathea, including the one with her lover, Faziya. Their passion, distinct personalities, and connection - past and present - are beautifully written. They will clearly die for each other. I can't wait to see how Talia and Faziya will hold up together in the next adventure, especially concerning Talia's feelings for Snow, who is now coming to realise just how much Talia means to her...
There is also surprisingly less action in this instalment than in the last two in the 'Princess' series, and more exposition and travelling around à la ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The positives outweigh the negatives, though, as the character development - especially Talia’s - is organic and flows with the multiple story threads.
Spell-rific, dramatic, diverse and well-thought-out, ‘Red Hood’s Revenge’ is a treat. So long as one’s patient.
All that's left is 'The Snow Queen's Shadow', the fourth and final book in the fantastical fairy tale ‘Princess’ series. I am super excited.
Final Score: 3.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment